Increasing digitalization shows us every day that there is no way around data. Future-oriented companies rely on data-based business models and derive business-relevant decisions from the ever-increasing amounts of data. Most companies lack real data experts who can not only apply the data, but also understand the logics and structures behind it. That's why they need software solutions that make it possible to make the data knowledge of individual experts accessible and tangible for all employees within the organization.
Lyntics' data literacy platform has set itself exactly that goal. This often gives the impression that it is a classic data catalog – but this is not the case. The differences and similarities result from the respective technical possibilities. So what is a Data Catalog and what is it used for?
In a Nutshell: This is What a Data Catalog Can Do
A Data Catalog is a metadata directory in which structures of different databases are centrally managed. This includes, for example, information about company data and the corresponding access options.
In this way, the Data Catalog fulfils the function of an information register and enables structured data management and use. In short, employees get the information they need faster. This is a real advantage for companies, because especially in environments with many (potential) data sources, the search for the right data can quickly become a very time-consuming and costly process.
Areas of application: Who uses a Data Catalog?
For a long time, the Data Catalog was primarily regarded as a tool in the big data environment. This has changed in the meantime. In principle, a Data Catalog can be used in any business area. In many companies, it is used, for example, for business intelligence analyses, but also for product development, marketing or strategic business orientation. Thanks to the mostly user-friendly interface, self-service analyses are possible. This means that all employees can access the information they are looking for – training as a data scientist is not necessary for access. For the interpretation of the data, however, usually already.
As always, when it comes to the use of data, factors such as data quality and protection play an important role. A data catalog automatically takes this into account, as well as data governance and data cataloging.
- Data Quality: The function of Data Quality refers primarily to ensuring data quality. For example, it must be regulated whether the data corresponds to a certain format that enables meaningful analyses. The data quality can be monitored directly from the catalog without much effort.
- Data Governance: Data governance is about managing the data used in the company. In particular, data protection aspects and compliance are essential here, as are questions of data ownership. This includes clear responsibilities and binding usage standards that ensure transparency: Who must be contacted if certain data is to be used? What are the usage requirements?
- Data Privacy: With regard to data privacy, the Data Catalog helps companies enormously. For example, in the classification of sensitive data or the anonymization of personal data. When using the Data Catalog, all employees in the company can be sure that they automatically comply with all data protection regulations.
- Data Cataloging: As the name of the Data Catalog suggests, it is primarily used to create an ordered inventory of the data and to index where this data is stored. In addition, it also allows the documentation of tables. This ensures clarity across all data sources.
On the whole, data catalogs are particularly useful in terms of data management, presentation and governance. Although the functions and possibilities of data catalogs relieve companies, they are limited. Companies need additional support, both to extract data structures and logics and to make them accessible. This is where Lyntics' data literacy platform comes in.
Digital Data Expert: Lyntics Data Literacy Platform
Lyntics' Data Literacy platform has some similarities with Data Catalogs, for example when it comes to table search and the display of tables from databases. However, it acts in addition to a Data Catalog. While data catalogs are rather reference works for data, Lyntics makes data literacy directly accessible – for everyone. Among other things, Lyntics can use data from a data catalog (and other tools!) via technological interfaces (e.g. APIs) and map it in addition.
As a digital data expert, the Data Literacy Platform embodies the logics required in data analysis, enabling users to quickly gain the knowledge underlying data analysis. The most important functions of Lyntics include:
Asset Search
Lyntics connects to all common end systems – including SAP, Tableau, Celonis, SAC, databases, file shares, repositories – and makes the assets contained therein such as codes, data models and analyses searchable. The number of executions, key users, the creation date or the status and other metadata are also supplied directly. Lyntics provides all relevant information about a data asset at a glance.
Data Logic Graph
Lyntics' Data Literacy platform automatically extracts the necessary logic from codes and data models. These logics – for example: How do tables have to be connected to each other? – are the essential basic building block of data analysis activities. Lyntics maps these logics in data logic graphs and can generate the optimal SQL code at the push of a button. The advantage: This speeds up the transformation of data and systematically reduces sources of error.
Data Science Workbench
With Lyntics, SQL, Python, R and machine learning models can be created, controlled, versioned, documented and executed centrally in a workbench. Thanks to the integrated KI-based help and an auto-completion of the code directly in the editor, users themselves do not need any previous experience in dealing with data. The no-C or automation of all processes with D rag-and-Drop Pipelines also reduces complexity for users. Bonus: Compliance audits for all data access are also possible without any problems.
Use Lyntics in Addition to the Data Catalog and Benefit from Data Literacy
The Data Literacy Platform goes far beyond the functionalities of a traditional Data Catalog. Rather, it is a meaningful and necessary extension for companies that rely on data-based business models. Data literacy cannot be learned overnight – and yet it is becoming increasingly important for all employees in the company. Only when everyone can recognize and apply the logics, structures and information behind the data can really add value from BI and analytics initiatives.